The no-frills airline launched its fourth annual charity calendar yesterday, which features a dozen of its female staff wearing only bikinis.

It hopes to raise up to £85,000 for the German charity Tafel, which provides food to those suffering from poverty and malnutrition across Germany, including a large number of children.

“Ryanair’s cabin crew stunners are delighted once again to strip off for charity,” said Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive.

He added that the decision to donate the proceeds to a German charity was due to the fact that 30 per cent of sales of the 2010 calendar were made in Germany. Last year’s calendar saw money donated to the UK charity KIDS.

The publication of the 2009 calendar led to Labour MEP Mary Honeyball accusing Ryanair of "sexualising" the airline industry, describing the stunt as "a desperate bid for profits".